The Coalition conducts public workshops and forums around the state, involving the public, public officials, and the media in discussing government accessibility as provided in the various statutes that assure such access and accountability from our public agencies.

New Revamped Web Site!
The Washington Coalition for Open Government will be launching a newly designed website March 1, 2010! We are happy and excited for this revamped website as it will make navigation easier to use and search for content easier to find.

Sunshine Week 2010 – Friday, March 19, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

KCTS Studios
401 Mercer Street, Seattle, WA 98109

Broadcast from from Center for American Progress Washington, D.C.

Local Panel
Rob McKenna - Washington State Attorney General
Brian Sonntag - Washington State Auditor
Sam Reed - Washington Secretary of State
Meredith Mechling - Monroe community activist and WCOG Key Award Winner
Ed Clark - Redmond CPA and WCOG Key Award Winner
Enrique Cerna - Moderator and Host of KCTS 9 Connects

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Government must be accountable
Sammamish Review: February 23, 2010

I firmly disagree with Tim Larson’s remarks regarding holding City Council retreats at far-away locations.

Why do Sammamish City Council members and staff feel that they can’t speak frankly in front of the citizens who placed them in their positions, and for whom they work? Why is it necessary to leave the city and give reporters and the public “an excuse not to attend,” in order for them to be open and honest about how they really feel about city issues? Is Larson saying that when the council is meeting in their chambers that they and the city staff are giving the citizens of Sammamish less than the full truth, keeping some things hidden, and being “guarded?” Read More

Constitutional Sunshine
Olympia Policy Watch: February 22, 2010

With National Sunshine Week (March 14-20) less than a month away, it's not too early to think about the reforms needed to make the legislative process more transparent. Whether it's the failure to implement a reasonable budget review period, holding hearings on "ghost bills," or carving out a special legislative exemption from the state's public records act, it is clear that constitutional transparency protections are needed for citizens. The Catch-22 of course, any constitutional reform must originate in the Legislature. Despite this obstacle, here are some suggested constitutional transparency protections to help make Washington the legislative sunshine state . . . Read More

A split decision on two petition bills
The News Tribune: February 22, 2010

Two bills still alive in the Legislature take on the state’s initiative/referendum petition-gathering process. Lawmakers should pass one and do some major surgery on the other.

The one that makes sense is Senate Bill 6754, which would clarify that the names and addresses of people signing initiative or referendum petitions are public records and may be released as part of a public records request. Read More

Washington lawmakers should kill two bad bills that undermine public records law
The Seattle Times: Februrary 21, 2010

WITH so much at stake this year as state officials make decisions affecting citizens, it is disappointing to see two advancing legislative proposals that would make it harder for citizens to keep tabs on their government.

House Bill 1317 would exempt from public disclosure the birth month and year and official photograph of law-enforcement officers. Read More

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